Skip to main content
Log in

Inhibitory effect of fenugreek galactomannan on digestive enzymes related to diabetes, hyperlipidemia, and liver-kidney dysfunctions

  • Research Paper
  • Published:
Biotechnology and Bioprocess Engineering Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

The present study was undertaken to investigate the effect of fenugreek galactomannan on intestinal glucose uptake in surviving diabetic rats. It explored their potential action with respect to lowering maltase, lactase, and sucrase activities in the small intestine of galactomannan-treated diabetic group compared to the diabetic control group. The findings indicate that the increase of blood glucose levels was significantly suppressed in the galactomannan-treated group than those in the diabetic rats. Moreover, the galactomannan isolated from fenugreek exhibited a prominent selective inhibitory effect against intestinal lipase activity. It was found to significantly delay the absorption of LDL-cholesterol and triglycerides and the increase in HDL-cholesterol. In addition, fenugreek galactomannan efficiently protect the hepatic function observed by the considerable decrease of aspartate and alanine transaminases (AST and ALT) and lactate deshydrogenase (LDH) contents in the serum of diabetic rats. The beneficial effects of fenugreek galactomannan were also evidenc-ed by their capacity to inhibit diabetes-induced kidney injury through lowering the urea and creatinine content in plasma. Overall, the conclusion of the present study indicate that fenugreek galactomannan displays a number of promising properties and attributes for future applications as therapeutic agents in biotechnological and bioprocess-based technologies, particularly those interested in the development of anti-diabetic and hypolipidemic drugs.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  1. Smyth, S. and A. Heron (2006) Diabetes and obesity: the twin epidemics. Nat. Med. 12: 75–80.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  2. Kowluru, R. A. and M. Kanwar (2009) Oxidative stress and the development of diabetic retinopathy: contributory role of matrix metalloproteinase-2. Free Radic. Biol. Med. 46: 1677–1685.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  3. Kang, K. A., J. S. Kim, R. Zhang, M. J. Piao, W. Y. Chang, K. C. Kim, G. Y. Kim, M. Jin, and J. W. Hyun (2009) Protective mechanism of KIOM-4 against Streptozotocin induced diabetic cells: involvement of heme oxygenase-1. Biotechnol. Bioproc. Eng. 14: 295–301.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  4. Hamden, K., S. Carreau, K. Jamoussi, F. Ayadi, F. Garmazi, and A. Elfeki (2009) Dietary Nigella sativa and Peganum harmala oils reverses hyperglycaemia, hepatotoxicity, and metabolism in rats. Food Sci. Biotechnol. 18: 739–744.

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  5. Hamden, K., M. A. Boujbiha, H. Masmoudi, F. M. Ayadi, K. Jamoussi, and A. Elfeki (2009) Combined vitamins (C and E) and insulin improve oxidative stress and pancreatic and hepatic injury in alloxan diabetic rats. Biomed. Pharmacother. 63: 95–99.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  6. Hamden, K., S. Carreau, K. Jamoussi, F. Ayadi, F. Garmazi, N. Mezgenni, and A. Elfeki (2008) Inhibitory effects of 1alpha, 25dihydroxyvitamin D3 and Ajuga iva extract on oxidative stress, toxicity and hypo-fertility in diabetic rat testes. J. Physiol. Biochem. 64: 231–239.

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  7. Ku, S., H. You, and G. Ji (2009) Enhancement of antitumorigenic polysaccharide production, adhesion, and branch formation of Bifidobacterium bifidum BGN4 by phytic acid. Food Sci. Biotechnol. 18: 749–754.

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  8. Park, G., D. Paudyal, Y. Park, C. Lee, I. Hwang, G. R. Tripathi, and H. Cheong (2008) Effects of pine needle extracts on plasma cholesterol, fibrinolysis and gastrointestinal motility. Biotechnol. Bioproc. Eng. 13: 262–268.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  9. Heo, S. J., J. Y. Hwang, J. I. Choi, J. S. Han, H. J. Kim, and Y. J. Jeon (2009) Diphlorethohydroxycarmalol isolated from Ishige okamurae, a brown algae, a potent alpha-glucosidase and alphaamylase inhibitor, alleviates postprandial hyperglycemia in diabetic mice. Eur. J. Pharmacol. 615: 252–256.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  10. Reddy, P. P., A. K. Tiwari, R. R. Rao, K. Madhusudhana, V. R. S. Rao, A. Z. Ali, K. S. Babu, and J. M. Rao (2009) New labdane diterpenes as intestinal alpha-glucosidase inhibitor from antihyperglycemic extract of Hedychium spicatum (Ham. Ex Smith) rhizomes. Bioorg. Med. Chem. Lett. 19: 2562–2565.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  11. Cha, W., J. Ding, and D. Choi (2009) Comparative evaluation of antioxidant, nitrite scavenging, and antitumor effects of Antrodia camphorata extract. Biotechnol. Bioproc. Eng. 14: 232–237.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  12. Jeong, H., S. J. Yoon, and Y. R. Pyun (2008) Polysaccharides from edible mushroom hinmogi (Tremella fuciformis) inhibit differentiation of 3T3-L1 adipocytes by reducing mRNA expression of PPARγ, C/EBPα, and leptin. Food Sci. Biotechnol. 17: 267–273

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  13. Hwang, J., J. Jeong, and K. Yu (2009) Isolation and characterization of intestinal immune system modulating and anticancer active fractions from the herbal prescriptions. Food Sci. Biotechnol. 18: 323–329.

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  14. Srichamroen, A., A. B. Thomson, C. J. Field, and T. K. Basu (2009) In vitro intestinal glucose uptake is inhibited by galactomannan from Canadian fenugreek seed (Trigonella foenum graecum L) in genetically lean and obese rats. Nutr. Res. 29: 49–54.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  15. Ulbricht, C., E. Basch, D. Burke, L. Cheung, E. Ernst, N. Giese, I. Foppa, P. Hammerness, S. Hashmi, G. Kuo, M. Miranda, S. Mukherjee, M. Smith, D. Sollars, S. Tanguay-Colucci, N. Vijayan, and W. Weissner (2007) Fenugreek (Trigonella foenumgraecum L. Leguminosae): an evidence-based systematic review by the natural standard research collaboration. J. Herb. Pharmacother. 7: 143–177.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  16. Doyle, J. P., G. Lyons, and E. R. Morris (2008) New proposals on “hyperentanglement” of galactomannans: Solution viscosity of fenugreek gum under neutral and alkaline conditions. Food Hydrocol. 23: 1501–1510.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  17. Tahara, A., A. Matsuyama-Yokono, R. Nakano, Y. Someya, M. Hayakawa, and M. Shibasaki (2009) Effects of the combination of dipeptidyl peptidase-IV inhibitor ASP8497 and antidiabetic drugs in streptozotocin-nicotinamide-induced mildly diabetic mice. Eur. J. Pharmacol. 605: 170–176.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  18. Dahlqvist, A. (1984) Assay of intestinal disaccharidases. Scand. J. Clin. Lab. Invest. 44: 169–172.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  19. Tietz, N. W. and E. A. Fiereck (1966) A specific method for serum lipase determination. Clin. Chim. Acta 13: 352–358.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  20. Wild, S., G. Roglic, A. Green, R. Sicree, and H. King (2004) Global prevalence of diabetes: estimates for the year 2000 and projections for 2030. Diabetes Care 27: 1047–1053.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  21. Campbell, L., D. Baker, and R. Campbell (2000) Miglitol: Assessment of its role in the treatment of patients with diabetes mellitus. Ann. Pharmacother. 34: 1291–1301.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  22. Basch, E., C. Ulbricht, G. Kuo, P. Szapary, and M. Smith (2003) Therapeutic applications of fenugreek. Altern. Med. Rev. 8: 20–27.

    Google Scholar 

  23. Suzuki, Y., M. Sano, K. Hayashida, I. Ohsawa, S. Ohta, and K. Fukuda (2009) Are the effects of alpha-glucosidase inhibitors on cardiovascular events related to elevated levels of hydrogen gas in the gastrointestinal tract? FEBS Lett. 583: 2157–2159.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  24. Kim, K. Y., K. A. Nam, H. Kurihara, and S. M. Kim (2008) Potent alpha-glucosidase inhibitors purified from the red alga Grateloupia elliptica. Phytochemistry 69: 2820–2825.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  25. Yoshida, K., A. Hishida, O. Iida, K. Hosokawa, and J. Kawabata (2008) Flavonol caffeoylglycosides as alpha-glucosidase inhibitors from Spiraea cantoniensis flower. J. Agric. Food Chem. 56: 4367–4371.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  26. Hamden, K., F. Ayadi, K. Jamoussi, H. Masmoudi, and A. Elfeki (2008) Therapeutic effect of phytoecdysteroids rich extract from Ajuga iva on alloxan induced diabetic rats liver, kidney and pancreas. Biofactors 33: 165–175.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  27. Hamden, K., S. Carreau, K. Jamoussi, S. Miladi, S. Lajmi, D. Aloulou, F. Ayadi, and A. Elfeki (2009) 1Alpha, 25 dihydroxyvitamin D3: therapeutic and preventive effects against oxidative stress, hepatic, pancreatic and renal injury in alloxan-induced diabetes in rats. J. Nutr. Sci. Vitaminol. 55: 215–222.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  28. Sauvaire, Y., G. Ribes, J. C. Baccou, and M. M. Loubatieres- Mariani (1991) Implication of steroid saponins and sapogenins in the hypocholesterolemic effect of fenugreek. Lipids 26: 191–197.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  29. Sharma, R. D. (1986) An evaluation of hypocholesterolemic factor of fenugreek seeds (T. foenum graecum) in rats. Nutr. Rep. Int. 33: 669–677.

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  30. Jaison, P. L. and P. S. Appukuttan (1992) Rapid isolation of human plasma anti-alpha-galactoside antibody using sugarspecific binding to guar galactomannan or agarose. Indian J. Biochem. Biophys. 29: 266–270.

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  31. Hamden, K., N. Allouche, M. Damak, and A. Elfeki (2009) Hypoglycemic and antioxidant effects of phenolic extracts and purified hydroxytyrosol from olive mill waste in vitro and in rats. Chem. Biol. Interact. 180: 421–432.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

Authors

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Khaled Hamden.

Additional information

Both authors have equally contributed to this work.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Hamden, K., Jaouadi, B., Carreau, S. et al. Inhibitory effect of fenugreek galactomannan on digestive enzymes related to diabetes, hyperlipidemia, and liver-kidney dysfunctions. Biotechnol Bioproc E 15, 407–413 (2010). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12257-009-3037-9

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Revised:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s12257-009-3037-9

Keywords

Navigation